Engins-starteb



W. L. McGRATH. ENGINE STARTER.

I APPLICATION FILED OCT- 21. 1919. 1,374,937. atented Apr- 19, 1921..

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- 1 1. $29.2.

I w. L McGRATH.

ENGINE STARTERI.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-21,1919.

Rammed Apr. 19, 921.,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

m 7 Z w Mm 5 a M 2 Mg mi UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM L. McG-RATI-I, 0F ELMIRA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ECLIPSE MACHINE COMPANY, OF ELIVITRA, NEW YGRK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK ENGINE-STARTER.

in i

0 all whom it may concern: Be it known that l, TVVILLIAM L. lVlo'GnArr-r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elmira, in the county of Chemung and :tate of New York, have invented certain and useful improvements in Enginetarters, of which the following is a specification.

lily invention relates to a starter for starting an engine such as an internal combust on engine, and the object thereof is to provide: a simple, efiicient and reliable drive or transmission therefor.

y drive is of the wellknown EclipseBen-dix type characterized by a rotatable member such as ascrew shaft ano a pinion automatically controlled in its movements by such shaft whereby when the prime mover such as the electric motor is operated the pinion is automatically meshed with the engine member such as the fly wheel, and is automatically (lo-meshed therefrom by reason of the greater speed of the engine. The various features of advantage and utility in my new construction will be apparent from the description hereinafter given.

In the drawings Figure l is an elevation partly in section illustrating the entire starter system and a portion of the fly wheel of the engine; Fig. 2 an end elevation thereof; Fig. 3 a central longitudinal section of the drive or transmission showing par s of the lower portion in elevation; Figs. 4 and 5 cross-sections on the lines 4l l and 55 respectively of F 3; and Fig. 6 a view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating a modified form of construction.

Referring to the present embodiment of my invention as shown in t e drawings which embodiment may partake of different forms but which is here selected for the purposes of a clear description of my invention, the starter system comprises an electric motor 1 on whose armature shaft is secured a driving pinion 2 which meshes with a gear 3. This gear is secured in a suitable man nor as by means of a key 4 to one end of a casing or cylinder 5'which is here shown as of substantially two diameters. This gear is mounted within an inclosing casing and bracket 6, being journaled. therein by means of anti-friction bearings such as the ball bearings 7 l The inner end of the caslng 5, at the end opposite its attachment to the gear3, is supported by a collar revolvmg Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 19, 1921.

around a stationary shaft 8 extending the full length of the casing 5, and also therebeyond at the right-hand end and supported in the bracket 9 which extends from the right-hand end plate 10 of the motor. This shaft 1s screw-threaded at its extreme outer end and is held in position thereat by means of the nut 11.

The drive proper which is contained withn the caslng 5 is substantially an Eclipse Bendix drive with certain modifications to adapt it for this particular construction. As shown a driving head comprising a fit nge 12 and an annular hub 13 is mounted loosely upon the shaft 8 and such flange is inter locked at its edge to the righthand end of the cylinder 5, such parts being held in place by means of the ring 14: screwing upon such cylinder.

The driving head is operatively connected by means of a yielding driving connection such as the coiled spring 15 with the driven head 16 of the rotatable member such as the hollow screw shaft 17, which is mounted loosely upon the shaft 8. The drive spring is anchored as usual to the driving and driven heads by the studs 18' and 19 respectively. The screw shaft is provided at its outer end with the usual stop nut 20. r

The driving member which is adapted to engage a part of the engine to be started, such as the fly wheel 21, comprises a pinion 22 which is mounted loosely upon the extreme outer end of the stationary shaft 8, and a cylindrical extension or shell 23 projecting inwardly and over the screw-threaded portion of the shaft 17. This shell is internally screw-threaded so as to coiiperate with the screw threads of the shaft 17. In the present instance the screw threads of the shell are formed separately, the same being formed in the inner bore of a sleeve 24 which is provided at its outer end with an annular flange 25 interlocked with the inner or right-hand end of the shell 23. These parts are held together by means of the ring 26 screwing onto the shell.

Describing a cycle of operation, when the motor is started the gear 3 will be rotated. As a result the entire cylinder 5 and the driving heads and screw shaft therewithin will be rotated around the stationary shaft 8 as an axis and as a support. The pinion 22 will thereupon be advanced longitudinally of the screw shaft and into mesh with the fly wheel gear. The screw threads of the shaft 17 and sleeve 24 are loosely fittedv and the pinion 22 is likewise loosely fitted upon the extreme reduced diameter end of the shaft 8 so that the weight oi? the pinion and its shell bears upon the upper surface of the stationary shaft suiiiciently to cause friction to retard or prevent any tendency of the pinion to rotate at'this time, which in addition to its inertia insures the desired longitudinal movement thereof. The pinion continues to advance longitudinally until the screw sleeve 24 comes into contact with the stop nut 20, whereupon such pinion will partake of the rotary movement of the screw shaft and will thereby rotate the fly wheel.

When the engine starts on its own power the pinion will be automatically demeshed and returned to normal position in the welllmown manner.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a modified form of construction which differs from that described, more particularly in the stop means for the advancing longitudinal movement of the pinion. In this modification the corresponding parts are similarly indicated. The stop nut 20 is here dispensed with and stop means provided which cooperates with the exterior ot the pinion shell. As shown the screw shaft is provided intermediate its length and at the rear of its screw-threaded portion with a circumferential flange 2? which is interlocked with a forwardly extending cylinder 28, such parts being held together'where interlocked by the ring 29 screwing upon such cylinder. This cylinder fits within the outer end or bore of the main cylinder 5 and is provided at its outer end with an inwardly directed flange 80 formin on its inner side a stop shoulder' l. The pinion shell 23 is provided with a circumferential flange 32 thereby providing a forward shoulder 33 adapted to abut the shoulder 3]. when the pinion is at its limit of outward longitudinal position, at which time the pinion and its shell together with the cylinder 28 partake of the rotary movement or the screw shaft. In'other respects the construction and mode or" operation are the same that above described.

The loose fit between the screw threads and between the pinion and its supporting shaft assure the longitudinal advancement of the pinion due to the resulting friction, but it will be understood that when the pinion is rotating it necessarily becomes centered, besides which provision is made for such centering in the bearing provided at the outer bore of the cylinder 5 which then cooperates with the flange 34, in the form shown in Fig. 3, or at the outer bore of the shell 30 which then cooperates with the flange 35, in the form shown in Fig. 6.

I claim:

1. An engine starter'drive comprising a central support, a sleeve mounted thereon, a concentric cylinder operatively connected with the sleeve, means for rotating the cylinder, and a driving member operatively connected with the SlBGi B for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith.

2. An engine starter drive comprising a central support, a sleeve mounted thereon, a concentric cylinder, a yielding driving connection between the cylinder and sleeve,

means for rotating the cylinder, and a driv-- ing member operatively connected with the sleeve for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith.

3. An engine starter drive comprising a central support, a sleeve mounted thereon, a concentric cylinder, a yielding driving connection between the cylinder and sieve, consisting of a drive spring, means for rotating the cylinder, and a driving member operatively connected with the sleeve for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith.

4. An engine starter drive comprising a central support, asleeve mounted thereon, a concentric cylinder, means for rotating the cylinder, driving head loosely mounted on the support and connected with the cylinder, an operating connection between the head and sleeve, and a driving member operalively connected with the sleeve for longitudinal movement thereoi and rotary movement therewith.

5. An engine starter drive comprising a central support, a sleeve mounted thereon, a concentric cylinder, means for rotating the cylinder, a driving head loosely mounted on the support and connected with the cylinder, a drive spring anchored to the head and sleeve respectively, and a driving member operatively connected with the sleeve for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith.

6. An engine starter drive comprising a central support, a rotatable sleeve mounted thereon, means for rotating such sleeve, and a driving member operatively connected with the sleeve for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith, said member being mounted to slide on said support.

'7. An engine starter drive comprising a central support, a rotatable sleeve mounted thereon, means for rotating such sleeve, and a driving member operatively connected with the sleeve for longitudinal movement there-oi and rotary movement therewith, said member being arranged axially of said sleeve and support and mounted to slide on such support. l

8. An engine starter drive comprising a central support, a'rota'table sleeve mounted thereon, means for rotating such sleeve, and a driving member operatively connected with the sleeve for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith,said member being mounted to slide upon one end of such support and in front of the sleeve.

9. An engine starter drive comprising a central support, a rotatable sleeve mounted thereon, means for rotating such sleeve, and a driving member operatively connected with the sleeve for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith, said member being mounted to slide on the support and such member and sleeve having cooperating stop means for limiting the outward longitudinal movement of the member.

10. An engine starter drive comprising a central support, a rotatable sleeve mounted thereon, means for rotating such sleeve, and a driving member operatively connected with the sleeve for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith, said member having a body portion mounted to slide on the support and a shell portion having said operative connection with the sleeve.

11. An engine starter drive comprising a central support, a rotatable sleeve mounted thereon, means for rotating such sleeve, and a driving member operatively connected with the sleeve for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith, said a sleeve having external screw threads, and

said member having a body portion mounted to slide on the support and a shell portion having internal screw threads cooperating with the screw threads of the sleeve.

12. An engine starter drive comprising a central support, a rotatable sleeve mounted thereon, means for rotating such sleeve, and a driving member operatively connected with the sleeve for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith, said sleeve having external screw threads, and said member comprising a pinion mounted to slide on the support and a shell portion having internal screw threads cooperating with the screw threads of the sleeve.

13. An engine starter drive comprising a central support, a rotatable sleeve mounted thereon, means for rotating such sleeve, and a driving member operatively connected with the sleeve for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith, said sleeve having external screw threads and said member comprising a pinion having a shell extension and a sleeve nut screwthreaded onto its sleeve, said pinion being mounted to slide upon the support.

14. An engine starter drive comprising a central support, a rotatable sleeve mounted thereon, means for rotating such sleeve, and a driving member operatively connected with the sleeve for longitudinal movement thereof ant. rotary movement therewith, said sleeve having external screw threads and said member comprising a pinion having a shell extension and a sleeve nut screwthreaded onto its sleeve, said pinion being mounted to slide upon the support, and said nut being rigid with such extension.

15. An engine starter drive comprising a central support, a rotatable sleeve mounted thereon, means for rotating such sleeve, and a driving member operatively connected with the sleeve for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith, said sleeve having external screw threads and said member comprising a pinion having a shell extension and a sleeve nut screwthreaded onto its sleeve, said pinion being mounted to slide upon the support, and means for limiting the longitudinal movement of the pinion.

16. An engine starter drive comprising a central support, a rotatable sleeve mounted thereon, means for rotating such sleeve, and a driving member operatively connected with the sleeve for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith, said sleeve having external screw threads and said member comprising a pinion having a shell extension and a sleeve nut screwthreaded onto its sleeve, said pinion being mounted to slide upon the support, and means located within such extension for limiting the longitudinal movement of the pinion.

17. An engine starter drive comprising a central support, a rotatable sleeve mounted thereon, means for rotating such sleeve, and a driving member operatively connected with the sleeve for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith, said sleeve having external screw threads and said member comprising a pinion having a shell extension and a sleeve nut screwthreaded onto its sleeve, said pinion being mounted to slide upon the support, and a stop nut arranged at the outer end of the threads of the sleeve and adapted to be contacted by the sleeve nut to limit the longitudinal movement of the pinion.

18. An engine starter drive comprising a central support, a rotatable sleeve mounted thereon, means for rotating such sleeve, and a driving member operatively connected with the sleeve for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith, said sleeve having external screw threads and said member comprising a pinion having a shell extension and a sleeve nut screwthreaded onto its sleeve, said pinion being mounted to slide upon the support, said pinion having a loose sliding fit upon said support so as to have frictional contact therewith except when rotated.

19. An engine starter drive comprising a central support, a rotatable sleeve mounted thereon, means for rotating such sleeve, and a driving member operatively connected threaded onto its sleeve, said pinion being mounted to slide upon the support, said cooperating screw threads being loosely fitted and said pinion having a loose sliding it upon said support so as to have frictional contact therewith on its top surface except When rotated.

20. An engine starterdrive comprising a central support, a rotatable sleeve mounted thereon, means for rotating such sleeve, and a driving member opertively connected with the sleeve for longitudinal movement thereof i and rotary movement therewith, said sle ve having external screw threads and said member comprising a pinion having' a shell extension and a sleeve nut scr wthreaded onto its sleeve, said pinion being mounted to slide upon the support, and said sleeve nut being; interlocked with the extension.

21. An engine starter drive comprising a central support, a rotatable sleeve mounted thereon, means for rotating such sleeve, and a driving member operatively connected with the sleeve for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith, said sleeve having external screw threads and said member comprising a pinion having a shell extension and a sleeve nut screwthreaded onto its sleeve, said pinion being mounted to slide upon the support, and said sleeve nut consisting of a sleeve portion and a flange portion interlocked with the extension.

22. An engine starter drive comprising acentral support, a sleeve mounted thereon, a concentric cylinder, means for rotating the cylinder, at driving head loosely mounted on the support and connected with the cylinder, such head. consisting of a collar portion surrounding the support and a flange portion connected with the cylinder, an operating connection bet-ween the head and sleeve, and a driving member ogeratively connected with the sleeve for longitudinal movement thereoi and rotary movement therewith.

23. An engine starter drive comprising a central support, a sleeve mounted thereon, a concentric cylinder, means for rotating the cylinder, a driving head loosely mounted on the support and connected with the cylinder, such head consisting of a collar portion surrounding the support and a flange portion interlocked at its edge with one end 01 he cylinder, an operating connection between the head and sleeve, and a driving member operatively connected withthe sleeve for longitudinal movement thereof? and rotary movement therewith.

WILLIAM L. MesniiTi-i. 

